§ 34. Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make it his policy to review the functions and role of the Privy Council. [13057]
§ The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Tony Newton)I have no plans to do so.
§ Mr. MackinlayWill the Lord President consider taking powers to abolish the Privy Council oath? Does he appreciate that that arcane mumbo-jumbo of an oath has now been totally devalued by the Government's failure to entrust my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition with a copy of the Scott inquiry report on Privy Council terms for a period during which he could read, digest and absorb its contents? Does he agree that the Privy Council oath is justified only on the rare occasions when approaches can be made to the other side in politics on Privy Council terms, but that on this occasion the Government have failed to do so? Is it not time that that arcane oath was abolished and done away with because it is absolute nonsense?
§ Mr. NewtonNo.
§ Mr. Jacques ArnoldIs it not highly appropriate that a recent oath was uttered by the right hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, East (Mr. Prescott)?
§ Mr. NewtonI did not quite catch that question, but my hon. Friends obviously think that the answer is yes. I shall take further advice.